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The definition of design

The District's new print shop offers a variety of photo and graphic products.

By Krissy Tripp

Published Dec. 3, 2010

Grammar junkies and lovers of all things word-related have probably stopped to take a look at The District’s new print shop, The Defining Print.

The storefront on the corner of Ninth Street and Alley A has dictionarylike explanations of its service and paint buckets covering the windows.

Its storefront seems to be working. Co-owner Sam Correll said business is good, and most of the store's sales are in-store, though customers can order online.

Correll explained coming inside allows prospective buyers to see exactly what their product will look like and get the personal attention they wouldn’t get online.

Correll credits The Defining Print's different, more fun atmosphere to co-owner and MU student Jeremy Elson.

“The concept was really his idea,” Correll said. “It was Jeremy’s idea to target the college market.”

Although they expected to sell their print products mostly to college students, they’ve found a demand for their products from local businesses as well.

“We found there was a huge need for this in the professional retail market,” Correll said.

He explained Columbia’s diverse client base has made the work more fun.

Because The Defining Print has such a precise product line, it's able to keep prices low enough to be comparable to bulk sales — making it the go-to print shop for commercial and personal retail. Currently, it offers four basic products in a variety of sizes: vinyl banners, erasable laminate, semi-gloss paper and sticky repositionable wall material.

Correll said he and his co-owner are opening up their product base to include canvas for the holidays and, depending on how sales do, might decide to make the option permanent.

Inside the store is a lot of clean, open space and photos — lots of photos. All the photos are for sale. Many showcase buildings and places, but two large banners on the top left wall are an exception. One is Elson himself and the other his black lab puppy.

Correll said eventually they plan to make magazine-rack style portfolios of various photographers’ work, which will be available for customers to purchase.

Now, they’re in holiday gear with sticky graphics everywhere. The holiday graphics set featured in the store, including colorful Christmas lights, stockings, a fireplace and Christmas tree, is also for sale.

It’s a great way to decorate the college dwelling for Christmas. The tree won’t take up precious space, the lights won’t use any electricity and the fireplace isn’t a fire hazard. Plus, what landlord could complain about decorations that don’t require any nails?

Actually, the whole nail-less, tack-less feature makes any photo or graphic a good option for the average college dwelling. It can be rolled up and replaced when you move, without needing to fix the wall.

Overall, the store felt very open. Correll seemed receptive to making almost any idea a customer could have happen, whether it required photo printing or graphic skill.

“I like what I do,” Correll said. “I don’t think there’s a bad part of it.”